Leaders of the Hamar and Ma’aliya tribes signed a reconciliation agreement in El Fula, West Kordofan, on Saturday.

The warring parties agreed to pay compensation for the losses sustained during fierce clashes that erupted in East Darfur and West Kordofan in April this year. The Hamar are to pay the Ma’aliya SDG15 billion ($2,600 million), while the Ma’aliya will compensate losses amounting to SDF7 billion ($1,215 million) to the Hamar. The payments are to be made in instalments in three monthly phases. The Council ofandnbsp;Ajaweedandnbsp;(tribe arbitrators) adopted the payment of 25 percent of the losses.

Babiker Ahmed Digna, Minister of Interior Affairs of West Kordofan described the agreement as “a unique model for reconciliation agreements”. He said that the Ministry is ready to facilitate the implementation of the agreement.

For his part, the Deputy Governor of West Kordofan, Prof. Abdel Rahman Mohamed Ali, stressed that the agreement signed between the two tribes will lead to security and stability. He called on the oil companies operating in West Kordofan and East Darfur to provide employment opportunities for young tribesmen.

Hamdan Abdallah Tirab, representing the constituency of Abu Karinka locality at the federal parliament, appealed via Radio Dabanga to the native administration leaders and the omdas to stay committed to the agreement.

File photo:andnbsp;Rizeigat and Ma’alia elders arrive at El Taweisha, North Darfur, for the signing of a ceasefire agreement in East Darfur, 21 August 2013. Their transport was facilitated by Unamid. (Hamid Abdulsalam/Unamid)